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OGBONA: THE ENIGMA By Dr. John Odior Anaweokhai It is not uncommon to identify a particular tribe with certain characteristics that range from the sublime to the infinitesimal and from the endearing to the despicable. Some people are known to be unforgiving while to others, craftiness, mendacity, and unreliability are their stock in trade. The Ogbona man is not exceptional. On a general note, Ogbona people are known to be high-headed, stubborn, self-will, independent-minded, self-opinionated, highly temperamental but hardworking, honest, humble, frank, bold, courageous, and daring. These innate characteristics, to a great extent, define who we are as a people, what we stand for, how we see ourselves, and how we are seen by the outside world. These noble characters have all through the ages bred suspicions and animosity between us and our next-door neighbors. Of all the virtues, self-assertiveness and independent-mindedness seem to be the major source of acrimony between us and others. No matter the seriousness and precariousness of the issue at hand, the Ogbona man will simply tell you AMHUE MA MIE, Nothing will happen. I remember what happened in 1989 soon after the Ogbona/Imiava war at Ayogwiri when I went on a visit. The Issue came up and I unconsciously told them NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. How that thought crossed my mind and found expression in such an audacious manner, beats my imagination till tomorrow. My host and her friends looked at each other with mouths agape and dilated pupils more out of shock than surprise. They asked me if had also been bitten by the bug and if nothing would happen. According to them, all the Ogbona people they had discussed the issue with gave them similar answers and I just laughed. Through to type, at the end of the day, despite the gang-up and the likes, nothing much happened This does not make it easy to deconstruct the Ogbona man with the ease of the methodology of precise science neither is it an easy ride to explain away the complexity of an entity who fears God and loves his neighbor but with the penchant to fight a cause, even at the expense of his life, to a logical conclusion, with the leeway of the liberal art. He has a voice that refuses to be muffled while articulating his views. He hates crime, dishonesty, and cheating. He believes in the dignity of labour and never begs for handouts from anyone. He believes in the unfathomable capacity of the jungle to meet his and his family’s physiological needs and as such, he wakes up before dawn to explore the limitless potential of the jungle. He understands and cherishes the importance of education, consequently, he will not hesitate a hoot to brave the thorns and bear the stings of life to educate his children. He is independent-minded with no trace of a groupthink mentality. His self-assertive nature, most times, brings him into conflict with others who mistake his independent-mindedness for arrogance. His love for his community knows no bounds and he is stubbornly uncompromising with his love for his kinsman and community. Whenever the independence of another object or being threatens to endanger his independence or that of his brother and community, the canine instincts in him are usually unceremoniously brought to the fore. I strongly believe the Ekperi people and the Imiava people ignorantly mistook these entrancingly endowed characteristics for weakness, of course, at their peril. Political leadership positions in Ogbona are not bought with money or influence. It is always a collective decision of the sage who after a thorough scrutiny of the character disposition of the personalities involved and with honesty as the guiding principle, choose a leader to be their eyes and protect their interest. This singular act does not in any way confer lordship status on such a beneficiary. He remains a trustee of the people, perhaps, a mere servant who is fortunate to stand in the gap for them and he is never spared whenever he derails. The billion-dollar question is what makes the Ogbona man tick and the envy of his neighbor? An exegetical evaluation of the Ogbonan without recourse to his root, is as futile as striving for excellence in calculus without the basic knowledge of algebra. Ogbona, according to oral tradition was the last son of his parents, Eramha Anwu and Uwuomhai Alukoko. It is generally believed that upon arrival from Benin with his extended family members, Anwu stayed briefly in Uzairue before migrating finally with his immediate family to UTUAGBABOR, Fugar, the present-day headquarters of Etsako Central Local Government Area, circa the 13th century. Anwu had four boys, namely, Unone, Arua, Uralo and Imhakhena. Imhakhena was the last child and as such, he enjoyed the exclusive love and care conventionally showered on the baby of the house. Moreover, his mother’s affection for him was beyond measure. She loved his company more than the rest. Very early in life, Ogbona exhibited traces of greatness and independent-mindedness, and very quickly too, he distinguished himself as a farmer/hunter of great prominence, all to the admiration of his parents, especially the mother. The other brothers were loafers who lived off of his farming and hunting prowess. Initially, Imhakhena restricted his expeditions to his immediate environment but later spread his tentacles far beyond Fugar. Most times, he would remain in the jungle for days, a happening that constantly gave the mother great cause for concern. At a point, he started staying for weeks but always came back home into the warm embrace of his mother with enough bush meat. Anytime he was questioned, he would repeatedly say UGBO UNUA. While UGBO means FARM, UNUA means LONG in Bini language and he soon became known as OGBONA. Ogbona was not bothered by his brothers’ laziness as he could well put up with their excesses and he did everything humanly possible to ensure the family lived together in peace and harmony. One fateful evening having sapped his energy on farming and hunting activities, he

OGBONA YOUTH FORUM (OYF), OGBONA Motto: United For Progress 10TH Day of March 2024. His Excellency, Godwin N. Obaseki The Executive Governor of Edo State, Edo State. Edo State Government House Benin -City, Edo State Your Excellency, Sir, CREATION OF FUGAR CLAN: REPRESENTATIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL UNDER SECTIONS 13, 14, AND 19(2)(C ) OF THE TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS LAW OF 1979. We write to bring to your attention the recent act of the Government in the inchoate creation of the Fugar Clan from the Avianwu Clan, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State. Ogbona is a legitimate entity of the Avianwu clan as created and gazette by the then Bendel State Government. Ogbona Youth Forum (OYF) is an association of sons and daughters of Ogbona extraction by birth, marriage, and paternal and maternal affiliation. Members of OYF reside across Nigeria and the diaspora. Ogbona Youth Forum was founded in 2003, and incorporated Under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act (CAMA)1990 in 2017. Currently, OYF has 7 branches across Nigeria and a diaspora branch. OYF currently has a membership of over 700 Sons and Daughters of Ogbona. OYF would like to bring to your Excellency awareness, that Ogbona is an integral part of the four villages (namely Ivhinone; Ivhiarua; Ogbona; and Iraokhor) that make up Avianwu Clan in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State. These villages co-existed peacefully and successfully with a shared history and culture dating back over 500 years since the migration from the Benin Kingdom in the 15th Century. Your Excellency, it is on record that Edo People all over the world are always proud of you as a Governor with a difference. Stemming from your professional background and a peace-loving Governor with eyes for detail. However, we believe that the Edo State Executive Council has been misled in initiating and subsequent creation of the Fugar Clan. That led to the Edo State of Nigeria Gazette NO.7 VOL 4 Published on 7th March 2024 for the following reasons: 1. AVIANWU CLAN OYF wishes to bring it to His Excellency’s notice that as a peacefully co-existing people, we acknowledge the right of a group of people to seek change and development. However, we strongly believe that such change or growth must be done by the relevant laws and customs of the people as contained in this instance THE TRADITIONAL RULERS AND CHIEFS LAWS OF 1979. Most cohesively, when there has been a shared heritage, history, culture, and tradition for centuries as instituted and passed down by our forefathers. Your Excellency, we believe that the Edo State Executive Council was not transparently led into creating a Fugar Clan. In full accordance with the legal guidance of Section 23 of The Chiefs Law of 1979; the Executive Council is empowered to make a “declaration.” in respect of an existing Clan. The Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of 1979 presupposes the existence of a Federated Clan based on the custom existing and published in an official State Gazette. The only Clan that satisfies that requirement in this instance is the Avianwu clan. Fugar clan was not created by custom law or legal act of the Government before the 21st of February 2024. Fugar clan does not exist and therefore does not meet the requirement of Section 23 of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of 1979. However, if His Excellency would like to believe otherwise, the OYF, here representing the entire Community of Ogbona, would contend at this point, that the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of 1979 was breached in its entirety in the creation of the Fugar Clan. The law was completely disregarded in the creation of the Fugar Clan. Fundamentally, it may interest your Excellency to know that the Oghievianwu of Avianwu, the Clan Head of Avianwu who is the Custodian of Avianwu Custom and Tradition including the Okpe Ukpi of Ogbona and Iraokhor, with their respective Palace Chiefs and elders of both Villages were not consulted in any form or manner before the purported creation of Fugar Clan. The Edo State Government Gazette published on the 7th of March 2024 referenced earlier is silent on the shared heritage and Customs of the Avianwu Clan. The Gazette did not amend or repeal the Bendel State Government Declaration, Stating the Existing Customary Law Regulating Succession to stool of the Oghievianwu of Avianwu. The Published Government Gazzette fails to address the crucial issue of the Oghieavianwu’s authority in the continuity of our long-standing critical traditional facets in various dimensions that affect the daily co-existence of our people. Critical to this fact is that the Edo State Gazette published on the 7th of March 2024 is ominously silent on the delineation of shared ancestral sites. This raises multiple primary concerns on potential limitations, strategic marginalization, and political undermining of Ogbona and Iraokhor, clearly limiting, and denying access of both villages to previously shared traditional heritage, resources, and sites located within the newly designated pre-supposed territory. 2, THREAT TO PEACE AND UNITY This unilateral decision by a group of people has the potential to disrupt the agelong peace and cohesion that had existed amongst the people of Avianwu. OYF believes that any creation of a clan from the existing Avianwu clan should be done inclusively, appropriately, and cohesively, following the Avianwu Customary Law with the necessary ambit of consultations amongst all villages, the Clan head (Oghievianwu of Avianwu) and all other democratic stakeholders of Avianwu clan. To promote continuous peaceful co-existence, democratic equity, and fairness to foster a strong society. The action of the promoters of the creation of the Fugar clan is tantamount to a few selfish political hawks who do not represent the people but set out to infuse division amongst the people for their self-interest. As expected, a section of the indigenes of Ivhiarua Village has vowed to resist and protest the creation by embarking on an organized protest. OYF fears that this will lead to a breakdown of law and

Ogbona Community Worldwide – All indigenes of Ogbona, home & abroad The Ogbona Community Worldwide Forum is designed to involve all indigenes of Ogbona and will be used for the dissemination of information, announcements, traditional and cultural events, etc. The primary purpose of this forum is to keep us abreast of developments within and outside our community and how to move our community forward. This forum is for every indigene of Ogbona. It is not an elite forum, not an association or a registered body, and not for political or religious purposes, but a social-cultural avenue to foster unity among sons and daughters of Ogbona. —————————————————— The primary purpose of this objective forum is to keep us abreast of developments within and outside the shores of our community. It  is not used for  political and  religious  purposes but a social-cultural avenue to foster unity among  Ogbona sons and daughters anywhere in the world, to move our community forward Rules of  Engagement: * Ogbona interests supersede personal or group interests. *Comic or political posts/clips are not welcome. *The forum is secular. That is, it shall not be used to promote a particular group of religions. *Uncouth word is seriously frowned upon. * Much as it is not political, the forum shall be used to support all Ogbona sons and daughters contesting elections against non-Ogbonan but will maintain neutrality where 2 or more  Ogbonans are contesting against each other. * For now, conflicts or issues shall be resolved by admins. The Ogbona Community Worldwide Forum We welcome everyone to this forum. This is the Ogbona community forum and we should all safeguard it from intruders and non-indigenes of Ogbona. We have allowed everyone without verification and many of us are using pseudo names and business names. It will take some time to put the house in order. Please let us know of non-Ogbona people in the forum